Container end structure

ABSTRACT

An end structure, either top or bottom, for a container body which is of tubular form and of multisided polygonal transverse cross section. The end closure comprises a flat substantially disclike end with attaching flanges hinged thereto and extending inwardly from the plane thereof, being in number and lateral extent equal to the sides of the body and extending axially inwardly into overlapping relationship thereto. Each flange carries at one of its lateral edges a tab hinged thereto and adapted to overlap the adjacent lateral edge of the next flange for purposes of sealing and strengthening the joints between adjacent flanges. The flanges are suitably secured in overlapping relationship to the cooperating sides of the tubular body.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Thomas E. Croley Worthington, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 864,323 [22] Filed Oct. 7, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee Corco Inc.

Columbus, Ohio [54] CONTAINER END STRUCTURE 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 229/23, 229/57, 229/21 [51] Int. Cl B65d 3/04, B65d 13/00 [50] Field of Search 229/23, 21, 43,7,5.5, 5.6, 5.7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,863 10/1935 La Grua 229/23A Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Anorney Mahoney, Miller & Stebens ABSTRACT: An end structure, either top or bottom, for a container body which is of tubular form and of multisided polygonal transverse cross section. The end closure comprises a flat substantially disclike end with attaching flanges hinged thereto and extending inwardly from the plane thereof, being in number and lateral extent equal to the sides of the body and extending axially inwardly into overlapping relationship thereto. Each flange carries at one of its lateral edges a tab hinged thereto and adapted to overlap the adjacent lateral edge of the next flange for purposes of sealing and strengthening the joints between adjacent flanges. The flanges are suitably secured in overlapping relationship to the cooperating sides of the tubular body.

, PATENTEU FEBIBISYI $563,448

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mm m L R. N m0 & R vR R 0 W E W E u/ O 5 6 I 2 2 2 5 M M 2 M m m M T OY BY MAH B The present invention deals with an end closure structure for either end of a tubular body of polygonal cross section, which can have any number of side panels joined along scored hinge lines. Both the body and the end structure or structures preferably are formed of fiberboard or similar material suitably scored and slit. Each end structure is in the form of a closure unit which preferably telescopes over the associated end of the tubular body. It is composed of a central disclike body which is provided with a series of flanges extending inwardly from the plane of the disclike body and being of the same number and width as the corresponding sides of the tubular body which they overlap. Each flange is hinged to the disclike body along a joint extending transversely of the end of each associated side panel of the tubular body, just outside the plane thereof. For providing a substantially siftproof and strong joint between adjacent flanges, each flange is provided at one of its lateral edge with a triangular tab which is hinged thereto and overlaps the adjacent lateral edge of the next flange. Also, the opposite or exposed lateral edge of each tab is provided with a notch which will be exposed so as to receive a retaining band that surrounds the inwardly extending flanges and clamps them against the cooperating sides of the tubular body. The closure unit, shaped as indicated above, with the extending flanges and associatedtabs, can be readily formed from a circular disc of fiberboard or similar material without appreciable waste by simple scoring and slitting operations.

A preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with a bottom end structure embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the end structure as it is being assembled.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the end structure showing the overlapping parts of adjacent flanges on the container bottom.

F IG: 3a is an enlarged perspective view showing the flanges being folded into cooperation with each other.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal or transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a detail in vertical section taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the scored and slit blank forthe end closure.

With reference to the drawings, the container end structure is shown embodied in a container having a tubular body 10 of polygonal cross section, the body shown having sixteen sides. However, it is to be understood that this invention is applicable to polygonal tubular bodies having any number of sides. The tubular body, as formed, is open at both ends and comprises the sides 11 which are in the form of flat panels joined at the score lines 12 which extend the full length of the tubular body. The body can be formed from a single flat blank of fiberboard or similar material which is scored at the lines 12 and which has its longitudinal edges overlapped and secured together as indicated at 13. Flanges 14 are hinged at transverse score lines 15 to the lower ends of the side panels 11 and are coextensive therewith. The flanges may have tapered lateral edges 16. When the container is assembled, these flanges will extend radially inwardly in a plane disposed at a right angle to the axis of the tubular body 10 (FIG. 5). If a closure is provided at the top of the tubular body, these flanges may or may not be provided as desired.

The closure end unit of this invention is applied to either or both ends of the tubular body 10 but is shown as being at the bottom end. It is indicated generally by the numeral 20.

The closure unit comprises a flat, substantially disclike body 21, but which has an outer peripheral edge of polygonal outline where the score or hinge lines 22 connect to the attaching. flanges 25. The flanges 25 correspond in number to the panel sides 11 of the tubular body 10 and in the example illustrated, this is 16. Each flange 25 at one of its lateral edges is provided with a triangular tab 26 which is hinged to that ed e along a scoreline 2 %y and which on its other free angular disposed edge 29 is provided with a lateral extension ear 28. The opposite lateral edge 29 of each flange is provided with a band-receiving notch 30 spaced outwardly from the score line. The flanges 25 are folded successively inwardly or upwardly relative to the disclike body 21, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3a, so that the triangular tab 26 of the one flange will be inwardly of the edge 29 of the next flange. This will expose the notches 30 on the edges 29 of successive flanges. These notches are spaced from the free outer edges 32 of the flanges 25. Preferably, the tubular body 10 will first be positioned on the flat disc 21 with the flanges 14 thereof folded inwardly at right angles and resting flat on the disc 21. The area of the disc body 21 will be slightly greater than the cross-sectional area of the tubular body 10 so that the flanges 25 will be disposed just outside the planes of the sides 11 and in flat contact with the exterior surfaces of those sides. As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5, a suitable retaining band 31, which may be of metal, may be tightened around the upstanding flanges 25 to hold them in tight, frictional relationship with the sides 11 of the tubular body 10.

The closure unit may be formed from a single substantially circular blank of fiberboard or the like, as indicated in FIG. 6, except that the outer peripheral edge will be trimmed as indicated to provide a disc 21 having sixteen angular edges 32. This blank is scored at 22 to provide the flange hinge lines and is slit at 29 to provide the separate flanges 25 along with the ears 28 and notches 30 at opposite lateral edges. Scorelines 27 are also provided to provide on the flanges 25 the triangular tabs 26 hinged to the one lateral edge of each of the respective flanges. The resulting structure can be formed into the closure element by the successive inward or upward folding of the flanges 25 as indicated previously.

It will be apparent from the above description that the flanges on the closure unit not only overlap the corresponding sides of the tubular container, but also overlap each other. The triangular tabs on one of the lateral edges of the flanges overlapping the other lateral edges of the flanges provide a siftproof joint as well as a structurally strong joint. The closure element can be easily made with minimum waste of material by simple scoring and slitting operations.

Iclaim:

l. A fiberboard container comprising in combination a tubular container body of polygonal cross section having a selected number of side panels angularly disposed relatively and connected at scored joints, an end structure comprising a closure unit adapted to telescope with said body at one end thereof, said closure unit comprising a substantially disclike body having an outer periphery of polygonal form with scored angularly disposed joints corresponding in number to the sides of said tubular container body and being substantially coextensive therewith, an attaching flange secured at each of said scored joints to the disclike body and being folded inwardly into overlapping contact with the adjacent surfaces of the respective side panels at the end of said body, each of said flanges having oppositely disposed lateral edges one of which carries a tab hinged thereto at a score line, the tab on each of said flanges overlapping the adjacent surfaces lateral edge of the next adjacent flange.

2. Structure according to claim 1 in which each of said tabs is of triangular form with an angular free edge opposite the scored hinge line thereof.

3. Structure according to claim 2 in which the opposite free edge of the tab has a band-receiving notch formed therein,

said flanges being disposed outside the respective side panels,

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patmu;No, 3,563,448 Datai February 16, 1971 I Thomas Ii. Croley It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 59, in Claim 1, cancel tne word "surfaces".

Signed and sealed this 18th day of May 1971.

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A fiberboard container comprising in combination a tubular container body of polygonal cross section having a selected number of Side panels angularly disposed relatively and connected at scored joints, an end structure comprising a closure unit adapted to telescope with said body at one end thereof, said closure unit comprising a substantially disclike body having an outer periphery of polygonal form with scored angularly disposed joints corresponding in number to the sides of said tubular container body and being substantially coextensive therewith, an attaching flange secured at each of said scored joints to the disclike body and being folded inwardly into overlapping contact with the adjacent surfaces of the respective side panels at the end of said body, each of said flanges having oppositely disposed lateral edges one of which carries a tab hinged thereto at a score line, the tab on each of said flanges overlapping the adjacent surfaces lateral edge of the next adjacent flange.
 2. Structure according to claim 1 in which each of said tabs is of triangular form with an angular free edge opposite the scored hinge line thereof.
 3. Structure according to claim 2 in which the opposite free edge of the tab has a band-receiving notch formed therein, said flanges being disposed outside the respective side panels, and a retaining band surrounding said flanges and being located in the respective notches formed therein.
 4. Structure according to claim 3 in which said panels have coextensive flanges hinged at score lines thereto at the end of said body which are folded inwardly and are in flat contact with said disclike body. 